Amusement game



April 9, 1935..

R. T. MOLON EY AMUSEMENT GAME Filed May 24, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l April 1935 R T. MOLONEY 31,997,067

AMUSEMENT GAME Fi led May 24, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. T. MQLONEY AMUSEMENT GAME Filed May 24, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet- 3 Aprifi 9, 1935. R T. MOLONEY AMUSEMENT GAME Filed May 24, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 W \p w- Patented Apr. 9, 1935 UNITED STATE PANT OFFICE 13 Claims.

The invention relates to an amusement game apparatus of the kind in which spherical projectiles are projected across an inclined playing field provided with openings that serve as targets through which the balls either fall or in which they lodge, each of said target holes having a numerical value for scoring purposes. Depending upon the skill of the player in manipulating the projector, greater or lesser scoring totals may be achieved.

Heretofore in games of this kind the ball projectiles remained lodged in the target holes that received them until the allotted number of balls were projected, the purpose being to permit the player to totalize his score as indicated by the numerical valueldesignated for each target hole. As such act was mental, it was slow, and also involved inaccuracy and served as a fruitful source of dispute between opposing players matching their respective skill. To some extent the problem has been solved by providing manually actuated totalizing attachments for the machines, but here, too, objections are encountered 'because it is slow and makes cheating possible when the operator of the totalizer is not too scrupulous.

To overcome objections of this kind in connection with the playing of such games, and to.

make the play more fascinating and interesting, it is desirable to'provide an automatic totalizing device in combination with the game apparatus that will make a positive, accurate indication of the score total.

Accordingly, the primary object of my invention is to provide an automatically operable score totalizing device for a game of the type stated.

Another object is to provide such score totalizer for a coinreleased game, such totalizer to be simple in construction and absolutely fool proof in operation.

Another object is to associate with said totalizer an improved ball storage and control mechanism so that unauthorized play without prepayment of the required coin cannot take place.

Many other objects will become apparent to those skilled in this art as the disclosure is more fully made.

Briefly, these desirable objects are achieved in the eiiample of the invention disclosed herein by providing a glass covered casing containing an inclined playing field board or surface provided with a plurality of targets formed as holes, each bearing a designated numerical value. Beneath the playing field board is a lower inclined board presenting a plurality of alley ways which trap the balls falling through the target holes in such a manner that balls falling through holes of the same numerical value are trapped by the particular alley designed to receive the balls of that value. Thence the ball rolls down its alley and is made to actuate tally wheels arranged in a compact rotary totalizer group at the lower end of said inclined lower board. After the balls have so automatically actuated the tally wheels the score total is visible through sight openings, said scoring digits being carried on the periphery of the wheels. The balls then accumulate on a ball carrier for storage. To play the game again a coin slide must be actuated to set the tally wheels of the totalizer to zero starting positions and at the same time to tilt the above mentioned ball carrier to drop the balls onto a main stationary storage carrier from whence the balls, of which a predetermined number is required, are raisable one by one of a manually actuated ball lifter to a position from whence they may be projected from a projector to the target holes; So much of the structure will sumce at this time to convey an idea of the game, which is particularly described hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a general top plan view of the game;

Figure 2 is a plan view with the playing, or upper board removed to show the lower alley board and the rotary totalizer mechanism;

Figure 3 is a general side view of the game, in section, as seen along the line 3--3 appearing in Figure 2 showing the operative parts in the starting position;

Figure 4 is a view of the operative parts shown in Figure 3 along the same section, but with the operative parts moved to a difierent position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged side sectional view through the totalizer as seen along the line 5-5 appearing in Figure 2;

Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 are respectively detail views to illustrate the various important positions assumed by pawl' and pin mechanism arranged between the first and second tally wheels as seen from the position indicated by the line 6--6 shown in Figure 2;

Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 are respectively detail views to illustrate the various important positions assumed by a cam, pawl and pin parts arranged between the second and third tally wheels as seen from the line Ill-l0 shown in Figure 2;

Figures 14 to 19 inclusive are respectively detail views to illustrate the various important positions assumed by a cam, pawl and pin parts ries an inclined playing field board 23 bounded.

by an elliptical wall 26 inwardly of which is spaced a conforming rail 25. Thus is provided group valued at 2000, as shown in Figure 1.

a marginally disposed ball projecting passage, the balls being projected by a spring pressed plunger 26 manually operable by a knob 27 as shown. This plunger is carried in the rear wall of the box above the playing field board 23. Another side rail 28 is provided to form a sub: sidiary ball passageway, which terminates with a one way swingable gate 29. A ball stop spring element 30 is located on the field board opposite said gate 29. A ball shown at St is projected by the plunger 26 (see Figure 1) causing it to roll rapidly or slowly, in accordance with the players skill, around the elliptical course pro.- vided and on its second time around it passes through the gate 29. The gate 20 swings up against the lass 22 which stops it from swinging over dead center, thus permitting automatic return of the gate to closed position. If the ball has suificient momentum it carries against the spring stop 30 from whence it rebounds onto the upper end of the inclined playing field. As the ball loses velocity it gradually rolls by gravity down the board 23 which is provided with targets or objectives in the form of holes 32 expeditiously provided in the board in relation to lively spring barrier abutments 38 to cause a spirited bounding and rebounding of the ball before it is trapped by one of the holes As indicated in' Figure 1, each of these holes is given a numerical value by a number designation applied to the board 23 adjacenteach hole. Thus, it is highly important to note here for a better understanding of mechanism to be hereinafter described, that four sets of numerical. values are amxed to these holes. Thus there is a group of holes designated for the value of 10; a group valued 100; another group valued at 1000; and a final The lower end of the board 23 is formed with a hole 3% having no value. This constitutes a free play as the ball trapped thereby is returned to projecting position to be replayed.

The lower end of the board 23 is formed with a relatively large rectangular opening 35 as shown in Figures 3 and 4 adjacent which opening the totalizer mechanism later to be described is located in the box. This opening 35 is covered by an ornamental cover plate 36 provided with a series of five sight openings 81] through which can be inspected the score total. The first opening labeled 3'! always shows zero as a card bearing such legend is secured in position under said opening 31' so that the opening always shows zero.

Referring now especially to Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen thatthe box 2! carries by means of a cross wall 38 and bracket 39, a second inclined board 40, the lower end of which terminates in confined passageways IDA, 406A, idlillA each passageway appropriately defined by partition walls as shown and leading from divisions or areas on the board grouped and formed so that pas- 100; and, the alley 1000A receives all balls valued 500E. In Figure 2 these holes 32 in the playing field board 23 have their positions relative to the alley board indicated by dotted circles. Provision is also made to trap the balls of 2000 value in an alley l! formed as a trough and raised above the alley board 30 a sufficient distance to permit the balls to pass freely thereunder when necessary. This alley Al terminates in the passageway labeled ZEIDGA directly above the passageway I000A. .See also Figure 5. These passageways IDA; IO0A; IOUDA; and 2006A in effect constitute delivery spouts for delivering the balls trapped thereby to a rotary totalizer mechanism presently to be described, the weight of the balls automatically serving to operate such totalizer mechanism. These passageway alleys it will be noted all terminate substantially below the forward edge of the opening 35.

As best shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 a frame 52 has its front end resting on the cross member 38 and is supported at its rear on a bracket 43. The forward portion of this frame embodies certain walls forming theball spouts from the alleys mentioned. The sides of this frame 02 are spaced from the sides of the box 2! to provide room for certain parts presently to be described. As shown in Figure 5 the rear portion of the frame 52 has a bottom lid which slopes forwardly and at its lower front end terminates in a transversely disposed stationary ballcarrying bar or trough which slopes slightly downward toward the projector or plunger side of the game. The forward plate portion of v the frame 62 is dropped down in operatedthe totalizer not yet described, by falling oi'r' the alley spouts "3A etc., they move down the arcuated surface 66 onto the ball storage bar 09. As this bar issloped they roll to the low end thereof at the plunger side of the game. After all balls have been played and received by said bar 09, this bar can be manually tilted, causing the balls to drop to the main stationary trough 55. It is from the lower end of trough 15 that the balls are moved one at a time to be in position for shooting by the projector 26. If a .ball falls through, the free hole 36 it rolls down a sloped floor 50 to. the trough 55 to be replayed. The

means for raising the balls from the trough-to the shooting position will next be described.

The projector side of the game box 26 carries a pivot pin 5! onwhich is rockably carried a ball elevating device in the formof a downwardly and forwardly extending arm 52 having a lower arcuate extension 53 guided inan arcuate-groove 543 the box 2i.

reams? versely extending pin 58. A plunger 5% manually operable by knob 60 is located beneath the projector plunger 21! in the front wall of the box 2i, said plunger 50 being operable when pushed forwardly to engage the cylinder 57 to rock the bell crank 56 down about pivot 5i causing the arm or device 52 to be moved upwardly, its lower front end picking up a ball which has gravitated part way into the groove 53 to lift the same by means of a projection 6! at the lower end of the arm 52. As the ball is thus raised and reaches the top of the groove 54% it is flipped into the sloping projection runway by the deflector 55 as will now be understood. Thus in the course of play all balls are transferred from thestationary tray 55 to the tiltable tray 69 which latter tray normally is held against tilting by means of a timing plate mechanism next to be described.

This timing plate to be described is controlled by a coin slide 62 disposed on the opposite side of the game from the plunger side heretofore mentioned, said slide being carried in the front wall of the box 2!! as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The coin slide includes the usual coin receiving pocket, said slide as usual in this art not being capable of inward sliding movement unless a non-magnetic coin, such as a penny or a nickle is first inserted therein. When a proper coin then is used, a player can push the slide forwardly into The front end of said slide carries a transverse bar 63 firmly secured to a longitudinally extending vertical timing plate 64 which as shown lies closely against the adjacent vertical face of the frame 42.

Said plate M along its upper edge is formed with a pair of longitudinally alined slots 65 through each of which is passed a headed pin 88 carried by the frame 42 for enabling guided sliding movement of the plate. Beneath the forward one of said slots, the plate is formed with a third longitudinal slot til the rear end of said slot extending abruptly downwardly as at 60. The adjacent pivot 8 for the tiltable tray 59 as shown in Figures 3 and 4 carries a crank (til the rear end of which supports a pin it fitted into said slot til. A spring it connects between the pin i0 and an upper point on the frame '02.

The frame work 62 carries a transverse crank shaft 712 (see Figures 2 and 5) having adjacent the timing plate $0 a forwardly and slightly upwardly extending cranked end 73 shown in Figures 3 and 4, and at its its other end adjacent the ball lifter 52 a second cranked end 110 adapted to engage the ball lifter device 52 as will presently appear.

The rear end of the timing plate (50 carries a triparm '85 adapted when the plate 00 is slid forwardly to engage a crank it carried on a transverse'crank bar W secured to and arranged forwardly of a transverse rock shaft l8 .journaled in the frame sides 32. This rock shaft carries a sleeve E8 on which is mounted in predetermined spaced relation four dogs it for a purpose later to appear, each of said dogs extending forwardly and provided on their under sides with a notch to locate the dogs on a stop rod 80 arranged transversely across the frame 42.

The timing plate 64 accomplishes three important functions. First, as the slide F52 pushes the plate M forwardly the lower edge of said plate rides across the crank 13 as shown in Figure t to push it down, thereby rocking the shaft 12 and moving its other crank 14 ahead to engage and push the ball lifter arm 52 forwardly to a position where its broad side acts as a gate to close the open lower end of the stationary ball tray or trough 45. As the plate 64 continues forwardly on the pins 66 the gate is so held closed as shown in Figure 4 and at the instant the pin 10 moves to the slot extension 68 the weight of the balls stored on the tiltable tray 49 causes the said tray to tilt and drop all balls onto the stationary tray 15. The instant this load is removed the tray it is free to resume its normal level position under the pull of the spring ii. On its travel forward the trip i5 on the plate M engages the crank it to rock the crank bar it forwardly and upwardly, said bar W in turn engaging the dogs E9 to move them upwardly to 9. released position withrespect to totalizer mechanism not yet described. At the conclusion of these three functions of transferring the balls from the tiltable to the main tray; setting the gate for the main tray; and, moving the dogs to released positions, a spring 82 serves to pull the plate (54 back to its home position as determined by the stop action of the pins 66 in the ends of the slots in: as shown in Figure 3. In this position the gate action of lifter arm 52 is no longer operative and the balls one at a time are free to gravitate into the groove 5 3 to be lifted to shooting position by the plunger 59. Also the tray 49 is once more held against tilting by the pin 10 held in slot Bl. Also the dogs having been momentarily released now because of their own weight fall back to their operative position on the stop bar 80.

The totalizer mechanism which automatically adds the score value of the holes through which the balls have passed will next be described. In this connection a perfect understanding of the operation requires that the reader not for one moment lose sight of the fact that only a predetermined number of ball projectiles are used. For the example of the invention herein shown and for the values given the respective holes, ten balls are employed, and no more. Thus the highest possible score that can be totalized is 20,000 and this requires that all ten balls pass through the holes or targets having the value of 2000 each. Accordingly the present form of the invention provides totalizing mechanism to show scores up to and including the maximum possible, to wit; 20,000;

As shown in the drawings, a stationary shaft $3 is mounted transversely across the frame sides 32 below the opening 35 on the playing board. Loosely turnable on the shaft 83 are four tally wheels 80 each carrying one end of a coil spring 85 anchored at their ends to the shaft so that in a well known manner as the wheels advance counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 3, these springs store energy. These wheels have broad peripheries appearing respectively under the sight openings 371, said peripheries carrying in properly spaced relationships the digits zero and one to nine. The wheels 80 will hereinafter be called the first, second, third and fourth wheels reading from right to left when viewed by an operator standing in the playing position in front of the game. The fourth wheel need only carry digits zero, one and two.

Each tally wheel carries on its side face a series of ten marginally arranged pockets formed by laterally extending vanes 86, all of which vanes in each wheel, except one, are skeletonized to be as light as possible and so located that the pockets on the first wheel are in position to receive the balls from spout 1A of the value of 10 coming from the holes so marked; the second wheel receives balls from the spout l00A to be actuated by the balls of that value, and the third wheel performs a dual function in that it receives and is operated by balls of both 1000 and 2000 values coming from the superimposed spouts NBA and 2000A. The fourth wheel vanes do not receive balls but merely serve as means to be engaged by the adjacent dog 119 to prevent back lash of the wheel when it is advanced by means later to be described. Incidentally the function of each of the dogs :19 is to engage under the vanes on the adjacent wheel to prevent its back lash while the coil the ball cannot completely enter the pockets and as a result the first nine balls must drag with a brake effect over the arcuate surface 3%.

After the ball has moved the wheel one step, as

stated, the numeral 1 appears to view through window 311 for the first wheel to show a score of 10, it being remembered that the first window 3? always shows zero. The ball having performed its function relative to the first tally wheel now drops down spout tl'l onto the tray 59, the ball rolling to the lower end thereof to be out of the way of succly delivered balls. The ball remains storedon this secondary tray 49 until completion of the play. The dog 39 for the first wheel prevents its reverse turning.

Let us assume nine balls have been played and thus tallied "by this first wheel. The tenth ball, if it were to be one of the value of 10 would hit into the tenth pocket and move the zero digit into view. But the score total should now be 100, so means is provided to cause the first wheel to operate mechanism that will advance the second wheel one step from its zero indicating position to one where it will show the digit 1, thus making the score total properly read 100. Referring to Figuresv 6-9 inclusive, the detail views and Figure 2 show that the first tally wheel 89 carries a pin 95' extending from the face of the first wheel toward the second tally wheel which in turn also carries a pin 9i facing. toward the first wheel. The shaft 33 between these first and second wheels carries a nonturnable concentric 99 the pin 35' in turn carrying a freely swingable hooked latch 99 riding-on the concentric as the first tally wheel turns step by step.

In Figure 6 the latch appears as it is when the first tally wheel shows zero, in other, words this is the starting position of the parts. In Figures 7, 8 and 9 the first tallywheel has not been shown but the various positions of the hook latch 89 with respect thereto are clearly shown; for instance, Figure 7 shows how the latch has swung to the hanging position it assumes when memo? weighted vane. Further this last pocket is deeper and permits full entry of the tenth ball so that it can freely move the tally wheel and not drag on the portion 06. Thus with no drag on the last ball and with the aid of the additional weight of the solid vane, an added force is available .to turn the first wheel from position 9 to position zero and at the same time enable hook 39 to turn the second wheel at one step from zero to 1. Thus the scorenow totalized reads 100. The first wheel, of course, has made a complete revolution by now and will go no further, but as the ten available balls all have been played it makes no difference. -When the dogs 79 are released from their wheel holding positions the springs drive the wheels back to zero starting position and the latch 09 simply reverses its path throughFigures 9, 8, 7 and back to Figure 6 in an obvious manner.

If all ten balls should operate from spout IBM. and thus turn only the second wheel 90, then similarly the first nine balls move said second wheel step by step to show from zero to nine with each ball dragging over the arcuate portion 06 and lodging on the tray 69. When the tenth ball hits the tenth pocket we have again a completely pocketed ball plus the additional weight added to said last pocket to allow the second wheel to be moved from 9 to zero and to pull the third wheel with it from zero to 1, thus totalizing 1000 which is correct.

. In Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 are shown the parts causing the second wheel to move the third wheel. Here the second wheel 86 is shown carrying a loosely swingable latch having a hooked end, said latch engageable with a cam 90' also loose, but on shaft 83. This cam in the starting position shown in Figure 10 hangs straight down because of its weight. The cam includes a boss 9| and the second wheel 80 carries a small pin 92 while a pin 93 extends from the third wheel 86 toward the second wheel. In Figure 10 the parts are shown when the second wheel shows zero. As the second wheel is rotated counterclockwise by the successive balls the latch 90 gradually is carried around in loose engagement with the loose cam 90'. In Figure 11 the pin 92 has traveled with the second wheel to engage the boss 9i on the cam 90' whereupon continued turning of said second wheel temporarily fixes the cam to move with the wheel and hold the hooked latch 90 to assume the position shown in Figure 12when said second wheel has reached its 9 indicating position. As the tenth, and last ball, drops into the second wheel's heavy pocket the second wheel turns to 'zero and the hook 90 engages the pin 93 to'pull the third wheel to its 1 indicating position, thus showing up a score total of 1000.,

The operation in a step by step manner of the third wheel 86 directly by the balls is different in some respects from the operation of the first two wheels, because here the balls are of 1000. and 2000 values and come from either of the two superimposed spouts l000A or 2000A. If a 2000 ball pockets in the wheel as shown in Figure 5 it comes from a higher leveland causes the third wheel to move two steps, thus moving the third tally wheel two digits; and if the ball comes from the lower spout l000A it is a ball of 1000 value and moves the third wheel one digit.

If all ten ball are to be of 1000 value we would have the situation depicted in Figures 14, 15, 16, 17 the third wheel 90 appearing only in Figure 14 of this series of views. Here again the shaft 83 carries a cam 94 always stationary, cooperating with a free hook latch 95 pinned to the said third wheel 84. The fourth wheel, adjacent the third wheel, carries two laterally extending pins 99, 91, the latter having a cut out surface 99 as shown. In Figure 14, taken with Figure 5, is shown the starting position of latch 95. As the wheel shown is turned counterclockwise by the succeeding balls of 1000 value, we find the latch 95 carrying around with the wheel to the position shown in Figure 15 where the hook of the latch just passes the pin 91 without picking it up, because of the cut out 98 formed therein. This is substantially the position after the seventh or eighth ball has registered. When the ninth ball of 1000 value registers, the latch 95 is held between the cam and pin 96 in a position for the latch to pick up the said pin. The tenth ball would strike the heavy pocket 86' and not drag over surface 96 as heretofore explained to provide the added force necessary now to turn the third wheel to zero and through latch 95 and pin 97 pull the fourth wheel with it from its zero position to its 1 indicating position, thus totalizing and showing under windows 31 the correct score total of 10,000. At the same time that the third wheel is advanced to show zero again the pin 91 is advanced to assume the position occupied by the pin 99.

If all ten balls were of 2000 values they fall into the third wheel pockets from the elevated spout 2000A and each ball would thus move the third wheel two steps at a time, because the balls must now each drop twice as far. The steps depicted in Figures 14-17 inclusive would be each reached twice as fast, for instance the fifth ball to total 10,000 would have moved the latch 95 to engage pin 96 as shown in Figure 1'7 and thus advanced the pin 91 to take the former position of pin thus the third wheel shows zero and the fourth wheel has been advanced to show 1 for a score of 10,000. The sixth ball drops into the third wheel 89 and causes the said wheel to move step by step, two pockets at a time, on a secondrevolution, thus carrying the latch around the cam 99 a second time, Figure 17 in dotted lines, showing how the latch can ride over the cam to start its second revolution. Upon registering of the ninth ball the latch 95 appears with respect to pin 97 as shown in Figure 18; the tenth ball now falling into the weighted pocket all the way so as not to drag frictionally and provide the added force to turn the third wheel from 8 to zero and through latch 95 and pin 9? move the fourth wheel to show 2 for an indicated score of 20,000.

Upon initiating play of the game by a coin it will be remembered that the timing plate 39 among other things through trip mechanism l5, it rocks the crank bar ll to free the four back lash preventing dogs 719 from their holding positionswith respect to each of the tally wheels When the wheels are so freed their associated coil springs 85 become instantly operative to drive all four wheels clockwise as shown in the drawings from a score indicating position to their initial starting positions where all wheels show zero. The first and second wheels will only reverse one, or part of a revolution, while the third wheel may have to turn reversely two revolutions. The fourth wheel returns only two steps. When these wheels return to their home positions a stop must be provided to hold them positively in such home or starting position, and accordingly as shown in Figures 3 and 5 the sleeve 78' which turns with rock shaft 18 carries loose stop arms 99 for the first and second wheels. The vanes 86 forming the pockets on these mentioned wheels are all short enough to pass these stops. The tenth vane, however, is longer so that when these three wheels reverse the long tenth vane 86 abuts and stops against the stops 99 to stop the wheels.

On the third wheel a difierent stop problem is encountered because this third wheel may have to make two revolutions, so a back stop must be available for return of said wheel either after one or two revolutions. Accordingly, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, a rod I00 extends from frame 42 which pivotally carries a bell crank l0! the two arms of which each may serve as a stop. A bracket H02 acts to stop down movement of the bell crank MM and a flat spring I03 urges thev crank to such position. When the third wheel 89 makes only one turn as in the case of all ten balls working on it alone, then the short pocket vanes all pass the upper arm of the bell crank until the tenth long vane 86 comes to it, then reverses with the Wheel and stops against the upper arm of the bell crank I0l. Should the balls cause two turns of the wheel or more than one turn, meaning any fraction of a second turn, then at the conclusion of the first turn the long vane 86 on said third wheel engages the upper arm of the bell crank [Ill to pivot the bell crank upwardly, which brings the lower bell crank arm to the horizontal stop position in the place occupied by the upper bell crank arm up to the completion of the first revolution of the wheel. Here the spring I103 clicks over. the heel of the bell crank adjacent its fulcrum to hold the stop yieldingly in position. Thus if the wheel has made more than one revolution when it is reversed at the completion of the first return cycle, the long vane engages the upper bell crank arm to snap it back to the position shown in Figure 5, then when the long vane 86 is again presented to the bell crank stop on the second reverse turn the latter is in position to serve as a rigid, positive stop to hold the wheel in home position.

The fourth wheel has a stop arm 8! carried on adjacent frame 02 cooperating with the long vane 99 on said fourth wheel.

The end of the rock shaft '18 adjacent the plunger 59 is formed with a crank i043 and the adjacent portion of the frame 92 hingedly carries a depending arm l05 provided with a shoulder B06 all as shown in Figures 2 and 20. When the timing plate 09 is moved through its connections to raise the stop dogs 79 the crank N19 is raised from the dotted position in Figure 20 to the full line position and comes to a latching rest on the shoulder H38 on the pendant arm I05 for positively insuring holding the dogs 79 disengaged while the tally wheels are drivenreversely. As the balls are raised to shooting position by the forward movement of the plunger 59 the pin 58 engages the arm M35 as shown in Figure 20 to pivot it forwardly a distance suificient to permit the cranked end 509 to fall off the shoulder I06. By this time the spring 82 has returned the timing plate to its rearward position and as the wheels also have been returned to starting position the dogs 79 of their own weight fall to wheel engaging position and the crank ltl i drops to its dotted position shown in Figure 20. Thereafter, during play, as each ball is successively raised to shooting position, the pin 58 clears the crank I0 1 on each forward movement and merely idly pushes the lever I05 without doing anything.

In playing the game a coin is inserted into the slide 62 permitting the operator to push the timing plate simultaneously forwardly with the coin slide. The timing plate 66 drops the balls, of which there are ten, from the tiltable tray 439 to the stationary tray 35; the plate 86 also moves the lifter arm 52 slightly ahead to serve as a gate for the lower end of the inclined tray 65; and the plate dd rocks the crank shaft to raise the dogs lid to free the wheels 86 to permit their springs as to return them to zero indicating, starting positions. As the c shaft iii rocks, its crank ltd locks on the lever the positively to hold the dogs rs released while said wheels return. Then the player pushes the plunger 59 ahead and through the pin 53 trees latch means HM, are so that the dogs is of their own weight drop to duty with respect to their wheels dd. As the spring 82 returns the timing plate 66 rear ward the gate 52 leaves the open end of the tray 15 so that the first ball gravitates into the groove 56 so that continued forward movement or the plunger 596 causes the lower end of arm 52 to pick up the ball and elevate it to the deflector 55 above the playing field board 28, said deflector causing the ball to roll down the inclined projec= tor passageway into position in front of the gun or spring pressed plunger projector 28. When the lifter is released it falls to its lower position V sho in Figure 3. The projector 28 is now manipulated to project the ball 80 onto the playing field toward the targets, or holes 32 where it is eventually trapped to fall through onto the lower, inclined alley board Git or onto the raised alley ll.

In this fashion each of the ten balls is fired and delivered through. the holes $32 and to the spouts WA; liidA; limtA; and fitted from whence the balls fall into the pockets on thetally wheels 86 to move them as described to register the score total under the sight openings 3?. The score totalizer mechanism has already been fully described. As each ball has operated the totalizer, it lodges on the upper tray 69. When all ten balls have been played the wheels at come to rest in score total indicating position and remain so until a second playing of thegame is initiated upon freeing the slide 62 with another coin, and the resetting of the parts for further play then is efiected, as-already described.

From this detailed dmcription it must now be plain that a simple, fool proof game device has been provided which achieves all of the desirable objects heretofore recited.

Only one practicable embodiment of the inven tion has been disclosed, and obviously it may assume different forms in practice. Therefore, it is the intention to cover herein all such changes and modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention, as indicated by the definitions thereof comprising the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a game having an inclined playing field provided with holes, means to project balls onto said field whereby they fall through said holes which latter have indicated numerical values some of which are the same, means beneath said field providing segregated portions to trap balls of the same numerical value, a totalizer mechanism embodying a plurality of rotary digit carrying wheels, said wheels provided with ball receiving pockets, alleys leading from the segregated portions to direct the trapped balls to the proper wheels, said balls falling into the wheel pockets to move the wheels step by step, and an alley superimposed over the aforementioned alleys whereby two of said alleys deliver to the same wheel from difierent levels.

2. A game having a playing field provided with ball receiving targets, means toproject balls to the targets a totalizer operated by the balls to score the value designated for the targets, a tray belowthe totalizer to receive the balls after the totalizer has been actuated, a second ball storage totalizer has been actuated thereby, a second ball storage tray, coin released means for causing the totalizer to set itself to starting position and for delivering the balls from the first to the second tray, and means to move the balls from the second tray to the projector means. p

4. A game having a playing field provided with ball receiving targets having designated numerical values, means to project balls to the targets, a ball storage tray, a lifter to raise the balls from said tray to the projector means, a totalizer above the tray and operated by the balls after they have been played to add the values of the balls, said totalizer comprising wheels carried on a shaft, said balls engaging and operating the wheels step by step, spring means storing energy as the wheels advance, dogs to prevent back lash of the wheels, a second tray above the first tray to receive the balls from the totalizer, and a manually operable control member. for causing the balls to be transferred from the sec- 0nd to the first tray, to release the dogs and permit the spring means to reverse the wheels of the totalizer to zero starting position.

5. A game having a playing field provided with ball receiving targets having designated numer: ical values, means to project balls to the targets, a lower ball storage tray, a lifter to raise the balls 'from said tray to the projector means, a totalizer above the tray and operated by the balls after they have been played to add the values of the balls, said totalizer comprising wheels carried on a shaft, said balls directly operating the wheels step by step, spring means storing energy as the wheels advance, dogs to prevent back lash of the wheels, an upper tray to receive the balls directly from the totalizer, and a coin released manually operable member for causing the ball :liiter to act as a gate for the lower ball tray,

below the totalizer to receive the balls after the I reverse the wheels of the totalizer to zero starting position.

6. A game comprising a box carrying an inclined playing field provided with holes having designated numerical values to receive balls projected over the field, a projector for the balls, a plurality of inclined alleys under the holes' to receive the balls, totalizer mechanism comprising rotary wheels in the box at the lower end. Q

of the alleys to receive the balls so that the wheels are operated thereby in a step by step manner, a tray below the totalizer to receive the balls from the totalizer wheels, a second tray below the first tray, means to lift the balls from the second tray to the projector, and a control urn for oausis ing the balls to be transferred from the first to the second tray and to cause the totalizer to reset itself to the zero starting position thereof.

7. A game comprising a playing surface across which balls are projected, said surface having targets of indicated values to trap the balls, a totalizer receiving and operated by the trapped balls to add their values, a tiltable tray below the totalizer to store balls as they operate the totalizer, a stationary tray below the tiltable tray, means to tilt the first tray to transfer the stored balls to the stationary tray, a ball projector, and means to deliver the balls from the stationary tray to the ball projector.

8. A game comprising a playing surface across which balls are projected, said surface having targets of indicated values to trap the balls, a totalizer receiving and operated by the trapped balls to add their values, a tiltable tray below the totalizer to store balls as they operate the totalizer, a stationary tray below the tiltable tray, a ball projector, means to deliver the balls from the stationary tray to the ball projector, and a single manually operable control member functioning to tilt the tiltable tray to transfer the balls to the stationary tray, to move the ball -mechanism comprising a plurality of wheels carrying indicating numerals, there being a tens wheel, a hundreds wheel, a thousands wheel, each of said wheels having a number of pockets equal to the number of numerals it carries, said pockets receiving the trapped balls as played to turn the wheels step by step to totalize the value of the balls, a fourth wheel also having pockets, all of said wheels except the fourth capable of making one revolution, while the fourth wheel may turn less than one revolution, said fourth wheel providing the ten and twenty thousands indication, and meansto store the balls after they have operated on the wheels.

10. A game comprising an inclined playing board provided with holes having indicated values, a projector for shooting balls over said board to the holes through which they fall, a second inclined board below the first and formed with partitioned zones to trap balls from the holes,

alleys leading from the zones to lead the balls to the lower end of the lower board, an alley superimposed above the lower board and delivering at a point directly above another of the alleys, and a counting wheel mechanism, there being one wheel for each alley to receive and be operated by the balls therefrom, one of the wheels receiving balls from the two superimposed alleys.

11. A game having a playing field comprising an inclined substantially horizontal board provided with holes, a projector to shoot balls over the board to be trapped by said holes, rotary means disposed near the lower end of the board for indicating the score of the trapped balls, means beneath the board to route trapped balls to the rotary means to be received thereby, a tray below the rotary means for receiving the balls from the rotary means, a second tray below the first tray, means to cause transfer of the balls from the first to the second tray, and means forv moving the balls from the second tray into position to be projected by the projector.

12. A game having a playing field comprising an inclined substantially horizontal board provided with holes, a projector to shoot balls over the board to be trapped by said holes, rotary means disposed near the lower end of the board for indicating the score of the trapped balls,

means beneath the board to route trapped balls to the rotary means to be received thereby, a movable tray normally stationary and located beneath the rotary means to receive and store balls therefrom, a stationary inclined tray below the first tray, means to move the first tray to dislodge balls therefrom into said second tray, and means to elevate balls from the second tray into position to be projected by the projector.

13. A game having a playing field inclined slightly from the horizontal and provided with holes to receive balls projected over the field, a ball storage tray at the lower end of the field and below the same, an inclined alley member disposed below the field to receivelballs from certain of the holes to route them to the tray, a second inclined alley member superimposed over the first, alley member and also disposed below the field to receive balls from certain other holes to route them to the tray, a projector for projecting balls onto the field, and means whereby the balls on the tray are made available for projection by the projector.

1 RAYMOND T. MOLONEY. 

